The Jacksonville Jaguars are reshaping their wide receiver corps, announcing Wednesday the release of veteran wideout Gabriel Davis just one year after signing him to a three-year, $39 million deal in free agency.
The move clears the way for a younger, revamped group of receivers, highlighted by the addition of two-way star Travis Hunter, who is expected to begin his NFL career on the offensive side of the ball.
“Travis will primarily be playing offense to start his career,” head coach Liam Coen told reporters following the first round of the NFL Draft.
The Jaguars also signed former Commanders wideout Dyami Brown, bolstering the receiving unit alongside 2024 breakout rookie Brian Thomas Jr.
The release of Davis does not come without cost.
According to ESPN, Jacksonville will absorb a $20.3 million dead-cap hit in 2025 as a result of cutting ties with the 26-year-old receiver.
Davis struggled to stay healthy in his lone season with the Jaguars, battling knee and shoulder issues early in the 2024 campaign before suffering a torn meniscus that placed him on season-ending injured reserve ahead of Week 13.
In 10 games, he totaled 239 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 20 catches.
Signed under the previous leadership of general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson, Davis’ future in Jacksonville seemed uncertain with a new regime in place.
The emergence of Thomas Jr., combined with Hunter’s projected offensive usage, left Davis facing limited opportunities for playing time.
Davis now hits the free-agent market with organized team activities still weeks away across the league, giving him a window to find a new home.
Before arriving in Jacksonville, Davis spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, where he built a reputation as a dynamic deep threat.
He averaged 16.2 yards per reception and scored 29 touchdowns over 74 games from 2020 to 2023.
His most memorable performance came in the 2021 AFC Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he set an NFL playoff record with four touchdown catches in a single game – the legendary “13-second” thriller.
Teams expected to be interested in signing Davis include the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, New York Jets, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints – and quite possibly the Buffalo Bills.
What are your thoughts on Jacksonville’s decision to release Davis? … At the end of the day, where do you think he will end up???
